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How can African farmers respond to the changing climate?

“You cannot rely on the rain to do farming... The seasons have become unpredictable.â€

“You cannot rely on the rain to do farming. Either it’s recurring drought or if rainfall comes, it floods. The seasons have become unpredictable.â€

Last week on Africa Daily we heard about the drought in East Africa and the flooding in South Africa – both bringing misery to millions. Basic food supply becomes difficult.

So today Mpho Lakaje speaks to Abdi Hashi, a farmer and entrepreneur in Somaliland who has set himself a task: to help the breakaway state – which currently imports 80% of its food – to become more self-sufficient. Six years ago he bought up a parcel of arid and unused land that some had deemed unfarmable. Now he has eight greenhouses and eight acres of thriving farmland – and trains other small farmers to become more productive and resilient, and less reliant on the rain.

And with the drought worsening, he tells us how his farm has become a stopping point for nomads from as far afield as Somalia and Ethiopia who are looking for water for their cattle.

Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@mpholakaje)
Guest: Abdi Hashi (@HorngardensB)

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16 minutes

Podcast